Monthly Archives: <span>June 2015</span>

Despite Continued Releases P/C Industry Reserve Adequacy Stable

The low inflation rate is a contributor to the property/casualty industry’s continued strong overall reserve position despite continued releases, according to a new study by Conning. “The Property-Casualty industry’s reserve adequacy remains stable in spite of additional reserve releases during …

Washington Man Used Seahawks’ Names to File Fake Workers’ Comp Claims

A Spokane Valley,Wash., man has been sentenced to six months in jail for faking on-the-job injuries and using Seahawks players’ names to get narcotics and other prescription drugs. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Harold Clarke also ordered Jeffory Leonard Mock …

Railroad Regulator Plans to Enforce Dec. 31 Safety Deadline

The nation’s top railroad regulator said Wednesday she will enforce a Dec. 31 deadline for commuter and freight railroads to install safety technology that experts say could have prevented a deadly Amtrak derailment last month. Sarah Feinberg, acting chief of …

New Study Examines Why Back Surgery Rates Vary Across States

The probability of injured workers getting back surgery depends on the area of the country in which they seek treatment for their back pain, according to a new study from the Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute. According to the study, …

N.J. High Court Finds That Res Judicata Barred Plaintiff’s UM Bad Faith Claim, Not the Entire Controversy Doctrine

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently differentiated between the “entire controversy doctrine” and the doctrine of res judicata in determining whether the insured’s bad faith claim arising out of an uninsured motorist situation was barred. The insured was injured in …

Property Replacement Costs on the Rise: Xactware

Replacement costs increased by more than five percent between April 2014 and 2015, said Greg Pyne, assistant vice president of Pricing Data Services at Xactware, a Verisk Insurance Solutions company. Pyne outlined the factors that influence reconstruction costs during a …

Claiming Injury From Engine Fumes, Flight Attendants Sue Boeing

Four flight attendants are suing Boeing, claiming that toxic air from an engine leaked into their plane and made them seriously ill on a 2013 flight. A lawyer for the four says Boeing has known for decades about the potential …

FEMA Refusing to Pay for Vermont Flood Resilience Projects

Ever since Tropical Storm Irene struck in 2011, Vermont has been pushing to make sure bridges and culverts are rebuilt to more flood-resistant standards. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency is rejecting – at least for now – the state’s …

Federal Judge in Wyoming Delays New Federal Fracking Rules

New U.S. fracking safety rules set to take effect Wednesday were put on hold by a Wyoming federal judge who said he needed more evidence to decide whether to block them as requested by drillers and four western states. Before …

Canada Files Railway, Environmental Charges in 2013 Lac-Megantic Oil Train Crash

The Canadian government on Monday charged the Montreal Maine & Atlantic Canada Railway Ltd, its affiliate and eight people with violating federal railway safety and environmental laws in connection with a 2013 oil train crash that killed 47 people and …